Khawaja Asif tells Fazl no defence pact was discussed in Tehran

ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said in the National Assembly on Thursday that no defence agreement was being discussed in Tehran, so his presence there was not necessary. He was replying to criticism by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

According to The Express Tribune, Fazlur Rehman had asked in the Assembly session a day earlier why the prime minister and the defence minister stayed in Pakistan during the Tehran talks on the Makkah defence agreement.

Khawaja Asif said both of them had been part of the defence agreements, but had no role in the Tehran talks. Speaking of Field Marshal Asim Munir, he said he had played a role in promoting reconciliation and regional peace. He thanked Fazlur Rehman for his concern, but called the criticism misplaced.

The defence minister also targeted Fazlur Rehman’s political past. He said he had stayed with different governments and kept benefiting from political arrangements. According to him, Fazlur Rehman took part in the system as leader of the opposition during the LFO era.

Khawaja Asif questioned what had been achieved during Fazlur Rehman’s ten-year chairmanship of the Kashmir Committee. He said that period amounted to merely enjoying official perks.

Speaking of his own past, he said he did not think it right to erase it and had publicly apologised for his earlier political stand. He claimed: "I am the only politician who apologised for his past."

During the speech, JUI-F members protested strongly and interrupted repeatedly. Amid a heated exchange, Khawaja Asif warned opposition members not to force him into making further revelations.